Sanitary Cleaning Device and Holder Therefore

ABSTRACT

A cleaning system comprising a cleaning implement and a storage means is disclosed. The cleaning system advantageously allows the cleaning implement to dry suspended within the storage means, and provides for air circulation throughout. The cleaning implement comprises a volume of cleaning material, such as a sponge material in a nylon netting. The cleaning implement includes a hanging means at a top end thereof, such as an apertured tab. The storage means comprises a base having at least one upright wall extending upwardly therefrom. Each wall has a plurality of air slots therethrough for allowing air to more freely circulate throughout the storage means. One of the walls of the storage means includes a suspension means that is adapted to cooperate with the hanging means of the cleaning implement so that when the cleaning implement is engaged with the suspension means the cleaning implement is suspended above the base without contacting any of the sides of the storage means. The base, each wall and the suspension means are each made from a dishwasher-safe and microwave-safe material, and the cleaning system is sized to fit into most microwave ovens, whereby the storage means, cleaning implement, or both may be sanitized by microwave energy to eradicate any bacterial growth thereon, either before or after each use.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication 60/825,620, filed on Sep. 14, 2006, and incorporated hereinby reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to cleaning implements, and more particularly toa sanitary cleaning device and holder therefore.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

Cleaning implements such as kitchen sponges are widely used and havetraditionally suffered from certain drawbacks. Chief among these is thefact that a wet sponge left on a counter top or sink tray fails toadequately dry on the side that it rests on. It is important for such asponge to thoroughly dry in order to reduce the opportunity that fungusand bacteria have to multiply. Consequently, sponges and other cleaningimplements that have failed to dry adequately may do more to transfergerms from surface to surface than they do to clean such surfaces.

Several prior art devices have attempted to overcome this drawback. Forexample, U.S. Pat. No. 7,041,261 to Margolis on May 9, 2006, teaches adevice that purposefully submerges a sponge in disinfectant fluid withina container. U.S. D506,128 to Foi on Jun. 14, 2005 teaches a similardevice. While germs are prevented from growing on a sponge stored insuch devices, it is not always desirable to keep a sponge wet when notin use as it is inconvenient to remove the sponge from such devices,particularly with one hand. Further, disinfecting fluid must be kept inthe container in an adequate volume to completely submerge the sponge inorder for such a device to be effective. Yet, when removing the spongeit is impractical to expect the user to wring-out the sponge directlyover the container to avoid spilling the disinfecting fluid. Most users,instead, will wring the sponge out over a nearby sink, thus wastingdisinfecting fluid and lowering the volume of fluid in the container.Consequently, use of such devices will require constant refilling of thecontainer with disinfecting fluid, which is both inconvenient andcostly.

Sponge racks, such as disclosed in U.S. D354,873 to Odbert on Jan. 31,1995; D423,276 to Fiegl et al. on Jan. 16, 2001; and D453,651 to Snellon Feb. 19, 2002, all make contact with at least a lower surface of thesponge intermittently. While such racks that are partially open at thebottom do allow the lower side of the sponge to dry more quickly, thereare still some contact points between the sponge and the rack.Consequently, germs on the sponge may be transferred to the rack, andthen transferred back to a new, clean sponge. Further, such racks areopen and in plain sight, making the often unsightly sponge visible tothe casual viewer.

One prior art device, taught in No. D372,340 to Wendel on Jul. 30, 1996,teaches a sponge having a built-in suspension cord. Presumably the cordis suspended from a pre-existing hook or faucet. While such a sponge maydry easily, such a device again is visible to the casual viewer and,once the sponge becomes unsightly, becomes an eyesore. Further, the userof such a device necessarily has to either install a hook or have asuitable suspension means for use with such a device.

Clearly, then, there is a need for a cleaning system that provides aneasily-sanitized cleaning implement that is at least partially hiddenfrom view when stored, thereby improving the appearance of a sink area,or the like. Such a needed device would enable the cleaning implement tobe suspended when stored, facilitating quick drying thereof andeliminating areas of the implement that stay wet, such as with prior artsponges laying in a tray or on a rack, for example. The presentinvention accomplishes these objectives.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present device is a cleaning system comprising a cleaning implementand a storage means. The cleaning system advantageously allows thecleaning implement to dry suspended within the storage means, andprovides for air circulation throughout. Further, the storage means ismade of a microwave-safe and dishwasher-safe material so that it can bethoroughly cleaned and sanitized.

The cleaning implement comprises a volume of cleaning material,preferably a sponge material in a nylon netting. The cleaning implementincludes a hanging means at a top end thereof, the hanging meanspreferably being an apertured tab. The cleaning material is alsomicrowave-safe.

The storage means comprises a base having at least one upright wallextending upwardly therefrom. Each wall has a plurality of air slotstherethrough for allowing air to more freely circulate throughout thestorage means. One of the walls of the storage means includes asuspension means that is adapted to cooperate with the hanging means ofthe cleaning implement so that when the cleaning implement is engagedwith the suspension means the cleaning implement is suspended above thebase without contacting any of the sides of the storage means. As such,liquid within the cleaning implement may drip down into the base. Thebase, each wall and the suspension means are each made from adishwasher-safe and microwave-safe material, such as a high-temperaturegrade polymer, or the like. The cleaning system is sized to fit intomost microwave ovens, whereby the storage means, cleaning implement, orboth may be sanitized by microwave energy to eradicate any bacterialgrowth thereon, either before or after each use.

The present invention is a cleaning system that provides aneasily-sanitized cleaning implement that is at least partially hiddenfrom view when stored, thereby improving the appearance of a sink area,or the like. The present device enables the cleaning implement to besuspended when stored, facilitating quick drying thereof and eliminatingareas of the implement that stay wet, such as with prior art spongeslaying in a tray, for example. The present device may be easilysanitized in a microwave oven, and the storage means of the presentdevice may be easily cleaned in a dishwasher, if desired. Other featuresand advantages of the present invention will become apparent from thefollowing more detailed description, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, theprinciples of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the invention, illustrating acleaning implement and a storage means therefore;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the invention, illustrating the cleaningimplement as suspended from a suspension means of the storage means;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the invention, illustrating the storagemeans of the invention shielding the cleaning implement from view from arear side thereof;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the cleaningimplement and hanging means;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another alternate embodiment of thecleaning implement and hanging means;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of yet another alternate embodiment of thehanging means, illustrating a front side thereof; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 6, illustrating arear side thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 illustrates a cleaning system 10 comprising a cleaning implement20 and a storage means 60. The cleaning system 10 advantageously allowsthe cleaning implement 20 to dry without contacting the storage means60, and provides for air circulation throughout. Further, the storagemeans 60 is made of a microwave-safe and dishwasher-safe material sothat it can be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized.

The cleaning implement 20 comprises a preferably rectangular volume ofcleaning material 30, preferably a sponge material in a nylon or othernetting, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The cleaning material 30 may also bea fibrous cleaning pad 33 (FIG. 4), cloth, steel wool 35 (FIG. 5), orthe like. The cleaning implement 20 includes a hanging means 50 at a topend 40 thereof, the hanging means 50 preferably being an apertured tabas shown in FIG. 1. The hanging means 50 may also be an aperture 53 atleast partially traversing the cleaning material 30, as illustrated inFIG. 4, or a flexible loop of material 55 sewn or otherwise attached tothe top end 40 of the cleaning material 30, as illustrated in FIG. 5.Clearly a variety of hanging means 50 may be incorporated into thepresent invention without diverting from the spirit and scope of theinvention. Preferably the cleaning material 30 is microwave-safe, exceptin the case where the cleaning material 30 is steel wool 35.

The storage means 60 comprises a base 70 having at least one uprightwall 80 extending upwardly therefrom. Preferably the storage means 60comprises three walls 80 extending upwardly from a rectangular base 70,as illustrated in FIG. 2. However, the storage means 60 may include anynumber of walls 80, even just one, provided that one portion over thebase 70 is open to allow the cleaning implement 20 to be introduced intoor removed from the storage means 60. For example, the storage means 60may alternately comprise a semi-cylindrical wall 80 and a circular base70 (not shown), or other suitable shapes as desired. In one embodiment,at least one wall 80 is slanted somewhat over the base 70 (FIGS. 6 and7).

Each wall 80 has a plurality of air slots 90 therethrough for allowingair to more freely circulate throughout the storage means 60. Each airslot 90 is preferably louvered so as to at least partially shield fromview the cleaning implement 20 when the cleaning implement 20 is storedwithin the storage means 60, as illustrated in FIG. 3. Alternately,however, each slot 90 is open, as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7.

At least one of the walls 80 of the storage means 60 includes at leastone suspension means 100, such as a hook as illustrated in FIG. 1. Eachsuspension means 100 is adapted to cooperate with the hanging means 50of the cleaning implement 20 so that when the cleaning implement 20 isengaged with the suspension means 100 the cleaning implement issuspended above the base 70 without contacting any of the sides 80 ofthe storage means 60. As such, liquid within the cleaning implement 20may drip down into the base 70. Liquid is thereby prevented fromdripping onto a surface upon which the cleaning system 10 is resting(not shown). Any liquid captured in the base 70 may be selectivelypoured out, if desired. Alternately, the base 70 may slope towards oneedge thereof and the base 70 may further include a plurality of drainholes (not shown) so that liquid is directed out of the base 70 into asink, or the like. A spout (not shown) may be further included to directthe flow of liquid from the base 70.

Alternately, the suspension means 100 may include a top cover (notshown) from which a crane-style hook is fixed. The suspension means 100may also be a two-part hook-and-loop type fastener, a pair of magnets, aplastic clip, a pin, or other fastening means (not shown).

The base 70, each wall 80 and the suspension means 100 are made from adishwasher-safe and microwave-safe material, such as a high-temperaturegrade polymer, or the like, provided that such a plastic material doesnot leach when used in a microwave (such as FDA approved plastics, forexample). The cleaning system 10 is sized to fit into most microwaveovens, whereby the storage means 60, cleaning implement 20, or both maybe sanitized by microwave energy to eradicate any bacterial growththereon, either before or after, or before and after, each use.

In use, the cleaning implement 20 may be removed from the suspensionmeans 100 and used in a cleaning activity, most likely involving soapand water. Upon return to the suspension means 100, the cleaningimplement 20 is free to drip liquid into the base 70. As the cleaningimplement 20 does not contact the walls 80 when suspended by thesuspension means 100, the cleaning implement 20 is free to dry at allsides thereof. The air slots 90 allow for greater air circulation aroundthe cleaning implement 20, facilitating drying thereof. Louvered airslots 90 provide for air circulation around the cleaning implement 20while substantially shielding the cleaning implement 20 from casualview.

The cleaning system 10 may be put into a microwave oven for furtherdrying and sterilizing, with the exception of the embodiment wherein thecleaning implement 20 is made from a non-microwave-safe material, suchas steel wool (FIG. 5) or other metal-containing cleaning materials 30.After several uses, the storage means 60 may be thoroughly washed anddried in a conventional dishwasher (not shown).

While a particular form of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed, it will be apparent that various modifications can be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Forexample, various shapes of bases 70 may be utilized, such as circular,oval, parallelogram, trapezoidal, rectangular, square, etc. Accordingly,it is not intended that the invention be limited, except as by theappended claims.

1. A cleaning system comprising: a cleaning implement comprising acleaning material having at a top end thereof a hanging means; a storagemeans comprising a base having at least one upright wall extendingupwardly therefrom, each wall having a plurality of air slots therein,at least one of the upright walls including at least one suspensionmeans projecting outwardly over the base, the base suitable forcollecting liquid dripping from the cleaning implement therein; wherebythe cleaning implement may be suspended from the suspension means of thestorage means, the air slots allowing air flow through the storage meansfor drying the cleaning implement, the at least one wall adapted forshielding the cleaning implement from view from at least one direction.2. The cleaning system of claim 1 wherein each air slot is louvered. 3.The cleaning system of claim 1 wherein the cleaning implement is madefrom a microwave safe material.
 4. The cleaning system of claim 1wherein the storage means is made from a microwave safe material.
 5. Thecleaning system of claim 1 wherein at least one wall of the storagemeans slants over the base of the storage means.
 6. The cleaning systemof claim 1 wherein the suspension means is a plastic hook.